How to Avoid the Negative Covid-19 Test Result Within 72 Hours of Arrival

Travel to Asia has been a popular choice for tourists and home travelers alike for decades. Asia is the largest and most culturally diverse continent, found primarily in the Eastern and Northern Hemispheres with a large area of Oceania to its south. It shares the same continental land mass with both Africa and Europe. The countries of Asia include China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Pakistan, Russia, Norway, Singapore, New Zealand, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United States, Iran, Iraq, and Vietnam.

While the US and Europe are the favorite destinations of tourists from the Western Hemisphere, Asia brings over a billion people every year that will visit their countries. With so much variety and culture, it is no wonder that travel to Asia brings with it a wide range of concerns and issues, some of which are unique to the place. For example, when traveling to India or other parts of India, there are restrictions that you must follow. There are strict rules regarding hijabs, alcohol, cosmetics, and more.

Some of the most popular destinations for Asian travelers include India and Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. In India, travelers have the option of visiting the Western Ghats. They can also visit the Western Himalayas and traverse the seven states – Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Delhi, and Jharkhand. Those who have an interest in ancient Indian cultures, such as Hinduism or Buddhism, can find many temples and pilgrimage sites in India, all within an hour or so of their hotel. There is a large Buddhist population in India and they often speak English, making conversation with them an enjoyable experience.

On the other hand, travelers to Southeast Asia, especially those heading for the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and China, should be aware of the risks of travel to certain areas. There have been increased incidents of trafficking and forced prostitution in many Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. You may also see conditions of slave labor in places like Malaysia and Singapore, and you may see reports of beatings and death by police. It is important to research the safest and best practices to ensure you and your family are not exposed to these types of practices while traveling to Southeast Asia, especially along the East Asia backpacker trekking route.

vaccines for travelers are readily available in any country, and necessary precautions are recommended. However, travelers to Southeast Asia should be aware of the latest travel restrictions across southeast Asia. Thailand’s Ministry of Health issued a travel advisory last week stating that all travellers should be vaccinated against West Nile virus before entering the kingdom. This is the first outbreak of the disease in Thailand and has prompted mass closures and sanitary inspections at various spots around the kingdom. The Ministry of Health emphasized that all travellers be conscientious of the risks of traveling to the country, especially in the wake of this deadly virus.

There have also been new measures implemented for foreign travellers coming into contact with Vietnamese citizens who have come to Thailand to enjoy the country’s cultural heritage. As many international travellers know, both men and women who spend time in Vietnam should receive two doses of hepatitis B vaccine before they leave the country. However, no vaccines are currently available to prevent diseases like shingles, rabies, malaria, lice, and ticks, nor are there any medications to treat them. According to the Ministry of Health, the only way to prevent encountering these diseases is to stick to a healthy lifestyle and follow hygiene when visiting any destination where these diseases might abound.

Similarly, there have been some recent restrictions for international travellers travelling to northern Myanmar (the name for the south-western region of Burma). According to the Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these restrictions were implemented due to ongoing issues in ASEAN-plus neighbouring countries, such as Laos, along with Cambodia and the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. For travellers originating from these countries, or with visas for Laos, Thailand, or the other ASEAN countries, entering northern Myanmar will not be easy now. Your travel insurance may not cover you for your trip to this part of the country.

A negative covid-19 test result within 72 hours of arriving in Phuket can also put you at risk if you plan to fly to northern Myanmar via another airport. On Dec 31st, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminded all travellers arriving in Phuket to seek medical treatment immediately if they develop a fever or other serious illness after arriving in the area. Travellers without medical cover will not be permitted to fly out of Phuket until all medical issues have been resolved. If you did not have medical cover and have a negative covid-19 test result within 72 hours of your arrival, it is possible you will need to seek medical assistance before you are able to fly home. The Ministry further advised that you should not attempt to fly back into Phuket while you are suffering from fever or any other serious illness. Those who have had a negative covid-19 test result within 72 hours of arrival are required by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be treated in hospitals in Thailand, unless the positive results from the malaria test are cleared.